Lumina engine swap

I currently own a 94 jeep wrangler. i am gong to be replacing it with a 98 Lumina base model. Big change i know. Anyway, when i get it i am thinking about doing and engine swap, ditching the 3100 engine/tranny setup and putting in a 3800 engine/tranny setup from say a 98 Grand Prix or Grand national and such. Basically asking if there will be any problems doing this swap and what complications to watch out for

Well, if you've been doing swaps, you'll know what's involved. PCM, cradle, mounts, fuel system, suspension, accessories, etc. Its a big change. We have a 2000 Buick Regal at GMASEP class with 13 miles on it, and I was talking to the instructor on what would be neccesary to swap such a beast. Its possible, most certianly. But it will be incredibly labor, time, and money intensive. The entire front end must be rebuilt to accept the wider block, basically.

This topic's been brought up several times, and I've toyed with the idea to undertake such a task in the next six years, so if I follow through with my plans I'll be sure to post the details. No guarentee I'll actually do it, though. Its just a lot of work to jump that big a gap.

The only things I did to my 1999 base model was add the trunk release and replace the cluster with one with a tach. Gotta have that tach. I get jumpy if I don't.

Just an afterthought, if you wanted a little more power that's not too hard to swap, go grab a 3400. Direct bolt up, get the PCM as well. Gives you a little extra power, if you want more try RSM Racing for their supercharger kit.

Thanx yall. i'm lookin into the 3800, but i'll definitely look into the 3400 as well. not lookin to race, just a little for the extra kick when i need it. thank you all again and cadgear, if you do get details let me know any hangups you might experience

Just an afterthought, with wider block does that mean lengthening the engine bay or widening the front end of the car? this would be the first front-wheel drive vehicle i have done this in. Also, i was wondering if you knew anyone who has a supercharger that wouldn't take away the A/C system. maybe a roots-type or something along those lines. Any info you can provide would be great. thanks

No, the W platform is large enough to accomodate both the 60 and 90 degree V6 engines. The 3800 has a Rootes supercharger available to it, as well, however then comes the problem of swapping the engine again.

If you've got disposable income and all the time in the world, then I say do it. Otherwise you might as well go grab a car with more options, because performance parts for the 3x00 engines is just hard to come by.

Put a Northstar or Aurora V8 in it.

Now a NSt V8 would be cool, but we're lookin at limited funds and very lil time between aquisition of vehicle and ship out time for basic training. The reason i'm looking into this is so when i get back from basic i will have a brand new drivetrain waitin for me. i can always come back after basic and dish out moolah for a car to really spice up, but for now i'm just looking for a quik swap with mild performance improvement. any other suggestions on how this can be remedied would be greatly appreciated.

OK, a couple of questions. The guy i'm gettin the car from says the only thing he knows rigth off the bat that is wrong with the car is that at around 60-70 mph, he says it shakes or tremors a little. any idea of what it may be? also, where would i be bale to find a 3400 engine/tranny combo for an "out-of-the-box" swap at a good price. I'm gettin the car at a pretty good deal, he's only wantin $1200 for a 98 with 120,000 miles on it. Any info would be helpful

Could be a torque convertor shudder, or a light load misfire, if it comes from the drivetrain, not the wheels. Don't know where to get a 3.4, unless you'd be lucky enough to find a wrecked Impala or something that wasn't already spoken for. You can put a request in at a salvage yard that has a locator service, and they'll find you one.

It seems like some of the Grand (whatever)s had a 3400 option. As well as the newer Monte Carlo LS has a 3400 option too...if I recall correctly. Anyone verify?

Yes, that's the standard V6 for alotta GM models for the last few years.

Thanx yall. i think what i'll do is find a 3400 engine/tranny combo in a salvage yard and start working on a rebuild. I can do the engine, but the tranny is going to be sent to someone who can do it right and maybe handle a lil beefier set up. I'll be test drivin the car here in a couple days, i'll see if i can identify what the shuddering feels like on the freeway and check back with yall to see if i can identify it. thanx again, i'll definitely be checking in and out of here for advice and tips, yall hav been helpful

Now, see if it were me, and I chose (not that I would) to do an engine swap, I'd go all out, get a 3800 from an impala ss that comes with a supercharger. Then you can pull up to the lights, next to that POS mazda MX6, and they will look over and think, (hmm, there;s a granny lumina, lets waste it), then next thing you know , they are eating your dust. I had a friend that was talking shit about my lumina 3.1L V6, and how his 94 ford probe se 4 cylinder, Manual would whomp all over my car, so I said bring it, I took him right off the line, and he never caught up. Next day his asshole friend shows up and wants to race with his MX6, I'll admit, that piece of shit rice burner kept up to the good old lumina pretty well, but after a block of so, I pulled a head, and kept loosing him at a steady rate. Granted I know nothing about the engines in these cars, nor the tranny's, or how good of shape they are in, but they are both true stories. I went through 20 bux of gas in 2 days, just to get people to lay off my poor old "granny lumina", and let me tell you it was worth it, and since then I have added a K&N air filter, which seems to improve throttle response, so, lets see them try it again. My lumina has gaind the respect of almost everyone I know, except this one guy who drives one of those ugly mitsubichi eclipses, the new ones with the whomping 2.0L 4 cylinder. He has never had the guts to race me, I really would like to too, b/c I think I can take it, and if not, its a sports car, Mines a family sedan. I'll just get beat once, and think of some thing I can add to my car to boost performance. I still cant get over how people buy those mitsubichi eclipses, and claim they are sports cars, why not buy a real sports car, a camaro, or corvette. Corvette's come with a 5.7 V8, lets see how that eclipse stacks up aginst chevy power. I had my eye on one hell of a nice camare about 15 mins away from my house, a 1989 camaro IRoc Z28 convertible, it had 68,000 some odd miles on it, and it was maroon in color, and waht a beauty, wish I would have bought it. O well, live and learn. Sorry I got a little carried away, but yeah, stick with the 3.8, even if its not supercharged, I havn't heard much good about the 3.4's, but if it were me, and my decision, I would just stick with the 3.1. They are quick, and better on gass, but its not, its your decision, good luck.

I've got a 3.1 in my Lumina and I'm afraid if I beef it up with a chip+exhaust+cold air intake...it'll fry the engine before it's time! Do i need to worry about this? I do plan on racing this too....

I was thinking of keeping the engine...definetly doing the previously mentioned, plus swapping new pistons, injectors, and valves, and transmission...but that's fantasy stuff there.

I suppose you could keep the 3.1, but even after you beef it up it'd be akin to watching cargo vans racing. You'd probably want something that could burn a tad more rubber, either a 3.4DOHC, a 3800 super, or if you can figure out how to put a square peg in a round hole, you can northstar it. Or if you're creative enough, RWD the sucker. That'd be a sight to see.